FUNDAMENTAL PLAN FOR ESTABLISHING A SOUND MATERIAL-CYCLE SOCIETY

Transcription

1 FUNDAMENTAL PLAN FOR ESTABLISHING A SOUND MATERIAL-CYCLE SOCIETY Outline the Plan 1 Page The First Progress Report the Plan 4 (Report from the Central Environment Council) For further information, please contact: Office Sound Material-Cycle Society junkan@env.go.jp

2 OUTLINE OF FUNDAMENTAL PLAN FOR ESTABLISHING A SOUND MATERIAL-CYCLE SOCIETY * This plan is called Sound Material-cycle Society Plan Chapter 1: Present Situation and Issues March 2003 Japan s socio-economic activities expanded in the 20 th century, contributing to greater material prosperity for humankind. However, this also led to increases in the volume waste generated, difficulties in waste treatment due to diversification types waste and environmental pollution caused by inappropriate waste management. These problems stem from mass production, mass consumption and mass disposal patterns rooted in the current socio-economic system. In order to solve these problems, it is necessary to establish a sound material-cycle society, in which consumption natural resources is reduced and environmental impacts are minimized. Chapter 2: Vision a Sound Material-Cycle Society For the purpose improving understanding about sound material-cycle societies, this chapter describes what a sound material-cycle society entails, including: i) regarding lifestyles, use products within the geographical area where they are produced, or establishment what might be called a slow lifestyle through the use good products with care for a long period time; ii) iii) regarding manufacturing, dissemination environmental services, such as designing products for easy recycling, designing products which can be refilled, or implementing lease/rental systems; and promotion development infrastructure for waste disposal, recycling facilities or accumulation relevant information and the enhancement human resources. Chapter 3: Quantitative Targets for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society This chapter sets forth quantitative targets on macro material flow account (MFA) and micro effort indices with 2010 as the target fiscal year (FY) in order to monitor progress toward the development a sound material-cycle society (see attached appendix 1). Those targets are: i) at the inlet, resource productivity, a figure which indicates how much -1 -

3 wealth (defined here as GDP) is produced per unit resources (defined here as natural resources and their products); ii) iii) during the cycle, cyclical use rate, a figure which indicates the degree to which cyclical (reuse/recycle) resources are being input; at the outlet, final disposal amount, a figure which indicates the weight being discharged as waste. Also, some targets for efforts, such as the reduction household wastes generated by each person by 20 percent, have been set up so that people can have a clearer image about how much progress they are making. Chapter 4: Activities Carried Out by the Central Government This chapter sets forth the role the central government, specifically, that it should make efforts toward the establishment a sound material-cycle society through fostering partnerships among citizens, NPOs/NGOs, business organizations, local governments and so forth. For example, the central government should make efforts towards the implementation relevant regulations based on relevant laws as well as towards the promotion environmental education and awareness-raising and the provision information. Chapter 5: Roles Various Stakeholders This chapter identifies the role various stakeholders and stresses the importance them playing their roles cooperatively. Chapter 6: Effective Implementation the Plan Progress needs to be evaluated annually by the Central Environment Council. The outcome will be reflected in Annual Reports regarding Progress towards the Establishment a Sound Material-Cycle Society. Furthermore, the plan shall be reviewed five years after its promulgation, taking into consideration all progress to date and any social changes that have occurred. -2 -

4 In March 2003, the Government Japan established Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society. This Fundamental Plan is established as one programmes a 10-year framework in the Johannesburg Plan Implementation WSSD in September Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society Image Image a a Sound Sound Material-Cycle Material-Cycle Society Society Manufacturing: DfE (Design for Environment), long-life products, lease & rental Waste management: cyclical use, appropriate disposal system Quantitative Quantitative Targets: Targets: FY FY Targets Targets for for Indicators Indicators Based Based on on Material Material Flow Flow Accounts Accounts a) a) Resource Resource Productivity Productivity b) b) Cyclical Cyclical Use Use Rate Rate c) c) Final Final Disposal Disposal Amount Amount 2 2 Targets Targets for for Indices Indices Related Related to to Efforts Efforts Reducing Reducing the the quantity quantity municipal municipal solid solid waste waste 20% reduction garbage discharged from households per person per day compared 20% reduction garbage discharged from households per person per day compared with FY2000 with FY2000 Promoting Promoting sound sound material-cycle material-cycle related related businesses businesses Doubling the size the related market and the number related jobs compared with Doubling the size the related market and the number related jobs compared with FY 1997 FY 1997 Efforts Efforts Required Required Entities Entities National National Government Government Fostering Fostering partnerships partnerships among among stakeholders stakeholders Citizens Citizens Changing Changing their their lifestyle lifestyle NPOs NPOsand and NGOs NGOs Promotion Promotion their their activities activities Business Business Organizations Organizations Promoting Promoting the the 3Rs 3Rs based based on on EPR EPR (Extended (Extended Producer Producer Responsibility) Responsibility) Local Local Governments Governments Enforcing Enforcing laws laws and and regulations; regulations; acting acting as as coordinators coordinators -3 -

5 THE FIRST PROGRESS REPORT OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PLAN FOR ESTABLISHING A SOUND MATERIAL-CYCLE SOCIETY REPORT FROM THE CENTRAL ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL Introduction 1. Purpose the Progress Evaluation February 21, 2005 The purpose this report is for the Central Environment Council to (i) conduct an annual review the progress measures enacted in keeping with the Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society with hearings from all stakeholders and (ii) provide feedback to the central government regarding future directions to be taken. 2. Review Mechanism After a preliminary review to be undertaken in April 2004, an investigation into progress with respect to the quantitative targets established in the Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society was conducted. In addition, the Central Environment Council has already convened five meetings with intensive discussions regarding ongoing measures being taken by not only the central government but also citizens, NPOs,/NGOs, business entities and local governments (see attached appendices 2 and 3). 3. Follow-up The Ministry the Environment reported the outcome the review at a cabinet meeting to be held on February 22. The Ministry the Environment further promotes measures toward the development a sound material-cycle society in close cooperation with other relevant ministries. -4 -

6 SUMMARY OF THE FIRST PROGRESS REPORT OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PLAN FOR ESTABLISHING A SOUND MATERIAL-CYCLE SOCIETY 1. Trends Indicator 1) Resource productivity Approximately 289 thousand yen per ton in FY2002, compared to approximately 281 thousand yen per ton in FY2002, representing a 2.8% increase Note: Resource productivity = GDP divided by direct material input 1000 yen per ton yen per ton (40% improvement from FY2000) ) Cyclical use rate Approximately 10.2% in FY2002, compared to approximately 10.0% in FY2000, representing a 0.2% improvement Note: Cyclical use rate = Total reused and recycled material input divided by material input 15 % % (40% improvement from FY2000)

7 3) Final disposal amount Approximately 50 million tons in FY2002, compared to approximately 57 million tons in FY2000, representing a 12.3% reduction million tons (50% reduction from FY2000) Million tons per year ) Reduction wastes a) Reduction municipal wastes While wastes produced by business entities decreased, wastes produced by households did not significantly decrease. b) Reduction industrial wastes The amount final disposal decreased, however the discharged amount remained at the same level. 2. Progress in measures taken by the central government - Further efforts are required to strengthen relevant measures in line with the Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society, as well as to enhance partnership among relevant ministries. - It is necessary to facilitate provision information to citizens on activities for the promotion the sound material-cycle society. 3. Progress measures taken by various stakeholders 1) NGOs/NPOs - It is expected that NGOs/NPOs will take significant roles in the promotion environmental activities as well as in environmental education. - Actions are required to strengthen support to NGOs/NPOs so that they can carry out their activities more actively. -6 -

8 2) Business entities Many business entities have been making efforts for the realization the 3Rs. Dissemination green purchasing and publication environmental reports has been progressing. Further progress is expected. 3) Local governments Although local governments are expected to develop local action plans for the promotion the creation a sound material-cycle society in a planned and comprehensive manner, progress to date remains insufficient. Efforts should be strengthened further for local governments to play more important roles as local coordinators in partnership with various stakeholders. 4. Findings and Remaining Issues 1) Progress on targets Although the reduction the final disposal amount has been progressing through the enhancement cyclical use, the reduction in waste generation has not been significant, as indicated by the rates resource productivity and cyclical use. 2) Environmental awareness Tangible activities are in progress to facilitate the development partnerships. If efforts can be made to further the activities citizens and business entities, even greater progress can be expected. 3) Future directions It is important to strive to make a shift towards the development a sound material-cycle society by promoting the efforts various stakeholders through the provision information as well as the establishment a system with both incentives and appropriate burden sharing among stakeholders. Consideration should be given to the promotion relevant policies, including charging for collection household wastes, according to the opinion given by the Central Environment Council s Committee on Waste Management and Recycling. Measures should be strengthened at the time that individual recycling laws are reviewed, bearing in mind the point above. -7 -

9 4) International efforts It is necessary to make efforts in collaboration with other countries to ensure an environmentally-sound material cycle resources by understanding the facts concerning transboundary movement wastes and by building up a network among relevant countries. In addition, through the Ministerial Conference on the 3R Initiative held in Japan, the Government Japan should plays a greater leading role for the global promotion sound material-cycle societies. -8 -

10 APPENDIX The material flow accounts for FY2002 Products (63) (Unit: million ton) Imports Resources (708) (771) Natural resources and the like input [Direct Material Input] (1,858) Domestic resources (1,087) Total material input (2,070) Net addition to stock (1,037) Energy consumption (412) Food consumption (125) Export (138) Generation waste and the like (581) Reduction (237) Final disposal (50) Amount cyclical use [reuse + recycle] (212) Returned to nature (83) The material flow accounts for FY2000 Products (70) (Unit: million ton) Resources (718) Imports (788) Natural resources and the like input [Direct Material Input] (1,912) Domestic resources (1,124) Total material input (2,125) Net addition to stock (1,087) Energy consumption (421) Food consumption (127) Export (123) Generation waste and the like (595) Reduction (241) Final disposal (57) Amount cyclical use [reuse + recycle] (213) Returned to nature (84) -9 -

11 APPENDIX MEETING RECORDS OF THE CENTRAL ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL S COMMITTEE ON WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING 2004 April 8 18 th meeting, Committee on Waste Management and Recycling - Follow-up to the fundamental plan June 29 - July 30 Investigation into progress by relevant ministries in FY2003 July 7 - July 30 November 18 Investigation into measures taken by local governments concerning the first review the Fundamental Plan Informal meeting, Committee on Waste Management and Recycling 1) Reports - Progress regarding quantitative targets - Progress by the central government - Progress regarding individual laws and activities - Progress regarding examples indices 2) Hearings - Relevant ministries (Ministry the Environment, Ministry Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Japan, Ministry Economy, Trade and Industry and Ministry Land, Infrastructure and Transportation) November 25 December 13 December th meeting, Committee on Waste Management and Recycling 20 th meeting, Committee on Waste Management and Recycling - Discussions on the activities local governments based on the report from the Secretariat - Reports from local governments (Aichi and Nagasaki Prefectures) 21 st meeting, Committee on Waste Management and Recycling - Discussions on draft report the review 2005 January 7 20 February 1 February 21 February 22 Public comments 22 nd meeting, Committee on Waste Management and Recycling - Adoption the report the review Report handed over from Chair Suzuki to Environment Minister Cabinet decision

12 APPENDIX Central Environment Council Planning Committee on Sound Material-Cycle Society List the Committee in alphabetical order Naohito Asano Pressor, Faculty Law, Fukuoka University Yujiro Eguchi Founder, Senior Advisor Ayako Fujii Executive director, Environmental Co-op Union Shiga Toru Furuichi Pressor, Graduate School Engineering, Hokkaido University Kazuo Ishii Executive Director, Japan Waste Management Association Saburo Kato President, Research Institute for Environment and Society Yasuo Kubota Assistant General Secretary, Japanese Trade Union Confederation(JTUC-RENGO) Hiromi Kurouji Mayor Eniwa, Hokkaido Shigeo Masui Editorial Writer, The Yomiuri Shimbun Katsuya Nagata Pressor, School Science and Engineering, Waseda University Hiroaki Nakagawa Secretary General, National Governors' Association Shin-ichi Sakai Pressor & Ph. D, Kyoto University Environment Preservation Center Yuko Sakita Journalist, Environment counsellor Takamitsu Sawa Director, Institute Economic Research, Kyoto University Mikio Shoji Japan Business Federation Committee on Environment and Safety Subcommittee on Waste Management and Recycling Hideaki Sekizawa The Japan Iron and Steel Federation Chairman the Environment and Energy Committe Nobuo Takeda Pressor, Graduate School Engineering, Kyoto University Kazuhiko Takeuchi Pressor, Graduate School Agricultural & Life Sciences, The University Tokyo Fumio Yamamoto President, National Association Towns and Villages (Mayer, Soeda Town, Fukuoka Prefecture) Hiromichi Yokoyama Pressor, Shukutoku University a chairperson Note: as January 6, 2005 Naomasa Nakajima Vice President, the University the Air Pressor, Graduate School Agricultural & Life Sciences, The University Tokyo Nobuo Tanaka Pressor, Graduate School Engineering, Kyoto University -11 -